Real Madrid Transfer News: Paulo Dybala Eyed as Neymar 'Response,' Fresh Rumours

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez will reportedly attempt to sign Juventus talisman Paulo Dybala after serving their transfer ban in 2017 as a "response" to Barcelona's acquisition of Neymar. 

It's said Los Merengues are eager to secure the talents of the next big thing in a bid to ease the transition from the club's current stars, and Dybala is Perez's target of choice, according to Spanish newspaper Sport.

Real are scheduled to serve a one-year transfer embargo in 2017 after breaching FIFA regulations on signing players under the age of 18, per BBC Sport, which will prevent them from making further signings throughout 2017.

It's mentioned even manager Zinedine Zidane has given his backing to launch a swoop on Dybala in 2018, but they might struggle after the striker showed his love of the Bianconeri in a recent win over Napoli:

Dybala has been a major success since moving to Turin from Palermo in 2015, netting 27 goals in 57 total appearances for the Italian giants and establishing himself as one of Serie A's most deadly finishers.

Real were one of the clubs linked with Neymar before he joined Barca from Santos in 2013, and despite missing out on his services, ABC's Dan Colasimone recently noted Dybala as being similarly influential in his new setting:

The 22-year-old is contracted to Juventus until the summer of 2020, and news of Real's lurking interest won't go down well at the Old Lady, even if the Italians do have more than a year to prepare before Los Blancos can make any deal.

Bayern Munich manager Carlo Ancelotti recently heaped huge praise on the Argentina international, whom he suggested could go on to become a potential Ballon d'Or contender when he spoke to Italian daily Tuttosport (h/t Goal's Stefan Coerts).

Ancelotti said: "Dybala can make history at Juventus over the next 10 years. He is unique, you cannot compare him to any other player. Dybala and Neymar can become the heirs of Messi and Ronaldo."

Juve manager Massimiliano Allegri does have alternative strikers under his command in the likes of Gonzalo Higuain and Mario Mandzukic, however, and OptaPaolo showed evidence the club isn't reliant on Dybala:

Despite signing a new five-year contract at Real, Ronaldo will turn 33 in February 2018, at which point Real will undoubtedly be stepping up their attempts to find the man who will eventually replace him in Madrid.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo named Portugal team-mate Raphael Guerreiro as his preferred signing after being asked which player he would bring to Real Madrid if choosing out of Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich's stars. 

The three-time Ballon d'Or winner rejected 2016 Golden Boy Renato Sanches—now at Bayern—in favour of Guerreiro when German magazine 11 Freunde (h/t Goal) asked who he'd bring to Madrid: "Perhaps my team-mate in Portugal, Raphael Guerreiro."